CULT OF LUNA

The press blurb accompanying this promo states "the stunning fifth album from Sweden's Cult of Luna sees the band make the leap from esoteric post hardcore to progressively minded art rock with ease" which is a fairly accurate description of the music on 'Eternal Kingdom'. It seems Johannes Persson and Fredrik Kihlberg's flirtations with the more melancholically infused progressive art rock of side-project Khoma have stylistically rubbed off on the songwriting for their primary band. In fact, 'Eternal Kingdom' perhaps bridges the gap between older Cult of Luna material and Khoma's impressive 2006 release 'The Second Wave', albeit marking a major progression in their songwriting. That said, 'Eternal Kingdom' is still very much Cult of Luna in essence, it's just like any self respecting progressive band should be - they've actually progressed with their sound and compositions. A conceptual piece, 'Eternal Kingdom' centres around a journal entitled 'Tales from the Eternal Kingdom' the band discovered while rehearsing in a 1920s mental institution, written by former patient Holger Nilsson who had been incarcerated for the murder of his wife. Persson explained in a press release that "to make music out of a story - not lyrics, but music to match an idea and concept...was very challenging". However, this is something that Cult of Luna have indubitably achieved - the eccentricity of the music is at one with the concept. 'Eternal Kingdom' is an album that needs to be heard rather than described in words, for it is so compositionally diverse and original in its progressively unique dynamics, there really are no comparisons to draw upon. I sincerely hope that, with 'Eternal Kingdom', Cult of Luna are able to expand their fanbase which has always predominantly been within the metal scene, because their music deserves to be discovered, and heard, by non-metal-minded audiences too (just as has happened to fellow Swedes Opeth in recent years). I doubt this will happen, as labelling and genre association and be restrictive for a band's exposure. This is a genuine shame, as 'Eternal Kingdom', while containing discernible metal elements, would be better considered as good, original music that transcends generic labelling. Did I say good? I meant fucking awesome.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Earache

Album

ETERNAL KINGDOM

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

61:00

RELEASE DATE:

16th June 2008

TRACK LISTING

1) Owlwood
2) Eternal Kingdom
3) Ghost Trail
4) The Lure (Interlude)
5) Mire Deep
6) The Great Migration
7) Österbotten
8) Curse
9) Ugin
10) Following Betulas

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"...the eccentricty of the music is at one with the concept...compositionally diverse and original in its progressively unique dynamics..."